Mobility management method, serving gprs support node or mobility management entity, and terminal

ABSTRACT

The present invention discloses a mobility management method, a serving GPRS support node (SGSN) or a mobility management entity (MME), and a terminal. Setting or dynamically modifying the mobility management frequency of a particular terminal among numerous terminals is enabled. The technical solution of the present invention includes: obtaining subscription data of a terminal, where the subscription data carries periodic update setting information; obtaining a periodic update interval of the terminal according to the periodic update setting information; sending the periodic update interval to the terminal; and setting a value that is a longer than the periodic update interval of the terminal as a mobile reachable interval for monitoring the periodic update of the terminal.

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/543,604, filed on Jul. 6, 2012, which is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/CN2011/070053, filed on Jan. 6, 2011. The International Application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 201010003404.8, filed on Jan. 11, 2010. The aforementioned patent applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the mobile communication field, and in particular, to a mobility management method, a serving general packet radio service (GPRS) support node or a mobility management entity, and a terminal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In a conventional mobility management (MM) technology, a terminal, such as a user equipment (UE) or a mobile station (MS), performs a periodic routing area update (RAU) or a periodic tracking area update (TAU) (collectively called periodic update hereinafter), and a periodic update interval (also known as a periodic update timer) is controlled by a serving GPRS support node (SGSN) or a mobility management entity (MME), where the RAU is performed with the SGSN and the TAU is performed with the MME.

The SGSN or the MME (collectively called service support node hereinafter) may send a periodic update timer to the terminal through an Attach Accept message or an Update Accept message, and this timer is unique in one routing area (RA) or in one tracking area identity (TAI) list, that is, all terminals in a certain area use the same timer.

The terminal runs the periodic update timer locally, and upon expiry of the timer, the terminal initiates a periodic update procedure and restarts the timer. Accordingly, the service support node has a mobile reachable timer, and the mobile reachable timer is a little longer than the periodic update timer (for example, 20 seconds or 1 minute longer), and is used for monitoring the periodic update procedure of the terminal. If the mobile reachable timer expires, the service support node clears a paging proceed flag (PPF) to zero, so that the service support node does not perform terminal paging.

It has been found that the conventional mobility management technology as described above cannot set or dynamically modify the mobility management frequency of a particular terminal among numerous terminals.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention provide a mobility management method and a service support node, which can set or dynamically modify the mobility management frequency of a particular terminal among numerous terminals.

To achieve the foregoing objective, the embodiments of the present invention adopt the following technical solution:

A mobility management method includes: obtaining subscription data of a terminal, where the subscription data carries periodic update setting information; obtaining a periodic update timer of the terminal according to the periodic update setting information; sending the periodic update timer of the terminal to the terminal; and setting a value, which is a little longer than the periodic update timer of the terminal, as a mobile reachable timer for monitoring a periodic update of the terminal.

A service support node includes: a subscription data obtaining unit, configured to obtain subscription data of a terminal, where the subscription data carries periodic update setting information; a timer obtaining unit, configured to obtain a periodic update timer of the terminal according to the periodic update setting information; a timer sending unit, configured to send the periodic update timer of the terminal to the terminal; and a setting unit, configured to set a value, which is a little longer than the periodic update timer of the terminal, as a mobile reachable timer for monitoring a periodic update of the terminal.

The mobility management method and the service support node according to the embodiments of the present invention obtain the periodic update setting information of the network with respect to the terminal through the subscription data, obtain the periodic update timer of the terminal according to the periodic update setting information, and send the periodic update timer to the terminal, and meanwhile set a value, which is a little longer than the periodic update timer of the terminal, as a mobility reachable timer for monitoring the periodic update of the terminal, thereby achieving the objective of setting or dynamically modifying the mobility management frequency of a particular terminal, and solving the problem that the prior art cannot set or dynamically modify the mobility management frequency of a particular terminal among numerous terminals.

The embodiments of the present invention also provide a mobility management method and a service support node, which can set or dynamically modify a mobility management frequency of a particular terminal among numerous terminals.

To achieve the foregoing objective, the embodiments of the present invention adopt the following technical solution:

A mobility management method includes: obtaining subscription data of a terminal, where the subscription data carries a periodic update deactivation indicator; sending deactivation information of a periodic update timer to the terminal according to the periodic update deactivation indicator; and stopping a mobile reachable timer so as to stop monitoring a periodic update of the terminal.

A service support node includes: a subscription data obtaining unit, configured to obtain subscription data of a terminal, where the subscription data carries a periodic update deactivation indicator; a deactivation information sending unit, configured to send deactivation information of a periodic update timer to the terminal according to the periodic update deactivation indicator; and a stopping unit, configured to stop a mobile reachable timer so as to stop monitoring a periodic update of the terminal.

The mobility management method and the service support node according to the embodiments of the present invention obtain the periodic update deactivation indicator of the network with respect to the terminal through the subscription data, send the deactivation information of the periodic update timer to the terminal according to the periodic update deactivation indicator, and meanwhile stop the mobile reachable timer so as to stop monitoring the periodic update of the terminal. Thereby, the mobility management frequency of a particular terminal may be decreased, the utilization of network resources may be improved, the objective of setting or dynamically modifying the mobility management frequency of a particular terminal is achieved, and the problem that the prior art cannot set or dynamically modify the mobility management frequency of a particular terminal among numerous terminals is solved.

For the terminal, the embodiments of the present invention provide a mobility management method and a terminal, which can set or dynamically modify, in cooperation with the network, the mobility management frequency of a particular terminal among numerous terminals.

To achieve the foregoing objective, the embodiments of the present invention adopt the following technical solution:

A mobility management method includes: receiving a periodic update timer from a service support node, where the periodic update timer is obtained by the service support node according to periodic update setting information in subscription data; and executing a periodic update according to the received periodic update timer.

A terminal includes: a timer receiving unit, configured to receive a periodic update timer from a service support node, where the periodic update timer is obtained by the service support node according to periodic update setting information in subscription data; and an update executing unit, configured to execute a periodic update according to the received periodic update timer.

In the mobility management method and the terminal according to the embodiments of the present invention, the terminal receives the periodic update timer that is obtained by the service support node according to the periodic update setting information in the subscription data, and executes a periodic update according to the received periodic update timer. Thereby, the terminal can set or dynamically modify, in cooperation with the network, the mobility management frequency of a particular terminal among numerous terminals.

For the terminal, the embodiments of the present invention also provide a mobility management method and a terminal, which can set or dynamically modify, in cooperation with the network, the mobility management frequency of a particular terminal among numerous terminals.

To achieve the foregoing objective, the embodiments of the present invention adopt the following technical solution:

A mobility management method includes: receiving deactivation information of a periodic update timer from a service support node, where the deactivation information is sent by the service support node according to a periodic update deactivation indicator in subscription data; and stopping executing a periodic update according to the received deactivation information of the periodic update timer.

A terminal includes: a deactivation information receiving unit, configured to receive deactivation information of a periodic update timer from a service support node, where the deactivation information is sent by the service support node according to a periodic update deactivation indicator in subscription data; and a periodic update stopping unit, configured to stop executing a periodic update according to the deactivation information of the periodic update timer received by the deactivation information receiving unit.

In the mobility management method and the terminal according to the embodiments of the present invention, the terminal receives the deactivation information of the periodic update timer that is sent by the service support node according to the periodic update deactivation indicator in the subscription data, and stops executing the periodic update according to the received deactivation information of the periodic update timer. Thereby, the terminal can set or dynamically modify, in cooperation with the network, the mobility management frequency of a particular terminal among numerous terminals.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To make the technical solution of the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art clearer, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art are briefly described below. Evidently, the accompanying drawings illustrate only some exemplary embodiments of the present invention and persons skilled in the art may obtain other drawings based on these drawings without creative efforts.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a mobility management method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a first simplified block diagram of a service support node according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a second simplified block diagram of a service support node according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of another mobility management method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a first simplified block diagram of another service support node according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a second simplified block diagram of another service support node according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a sequence chart of a mobility management method according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a sequence chart of a mobility management method according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a sequence chart of a mobility management method according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a sequence chart of an embodiment for activating a periodic update of a terminal according to the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a sequence chart of another embodiment for activating a periodic update of a terminal according to the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a mobility management method for a terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a simplified block diagram of a terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a first flowchart of another mobility management method for a terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a second flowchart of another mobility management method for a terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a first simplified block diagram of another terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 17 is a second simplified block diagram of another terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The technical solution of the embodiments of the present invention is described clearly and completely in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. It is evident that the described embodiments are only some exemplary embodiments of the present invention, rather than all embodiments of the present invention. All other embodiments that persons skilled in the art obtain without creative efforts based on the embodiments of the present invention also fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, a mobility management method according to an embodiment of the present invention includes the following steps:

Step 11: Obtain subscription data of a terminal, where the subscription data carries periodic update setting information.

A service support node may obtain the periodic update setting information of the terminal from a home location register (HLR) or a home subscriber server (HSS) (collectively called subscriber server hereinafter) in one of the following two modes:

First mode: In an attach procedure of the terminal, when the service support node receives an Attach Request from the terminal, the service support node sends an Update Location message to the subscriber server and receives the subscription data sent by the subscriber server, where the subscription data carries the periodic update setting information.

Second mode: If the terminal has already attached, when the subscriber server needs to reset the periodic update of the terminal, the subscriber server sends new subscription data to the service support node, where the subscription data carries the periodic update setting information. Scenarios where the subscriber server resets the periodic update of the terminal include a scenario where the subscriber server has previously set the periodic update of the terminal, or a scenario where the terminal uses a regular periodic update timer.

The periodic update setting information carried in the subscription data may take one of the following three forms:

-   -   A1. a multiplication factor of a regular periodic update timer;     -   B1. a specified periodic update timer; and     -   C1. an increment value of a regular periodic update timer.

In any one of the above forms, a conventional message (the Insert User Data message) used by the subscriber server for sending the subscription data to the service support node needs to be enhanced. For one example, a parameter “Periodic Update Timer Multiplication Factor” may be added, using an 8-bit coding, and the multiplication factor takes a value from 0 to 255 (0 may be used to indicate that the periodic update is deactivated). For another example, a parameter “Predefined Periodic Update Timer” may be added, using an 8-bit coding, where 5 bits represents a timer value and 3 bits defines a unit of the timer value, such as 1 hour, 1 day, 1 week, or 1 month. For yet another example, a parameter “Periodic Update Timer Increment” may be added to represent an increment value for the regular periodic update timer.

Step 12: Obtain a periodic update timer of the terminal according to the periodic update setting information.

After the service support node receives the periodic update setting information of the terminal, the following three possible processing ways may be used to obtain the periodic update timer of the terminal:

A2. when the periodic update setting information is a multiplication factor of the regular periodic update timer, obtaining the regular periodic update timer and multiplying the regular periodic update timer with the multiplication factor to obtain the periodic update timer of the terminal; or

B2. when the periodic update setting information is a specified periodic update timer, directly using the specified periodic update timer as the periodic update timer of the terminal; or

C2. when the periodic update setting information is an increment value of the regular periodic update timer, obtaining the regular periodic update timer and adding the increment value to the regular periodic update timer to obtain the periodic update timer of the terminal.

Step 13: Send the periodic update timer of the terminal to the terminal.

Corresponding to the two modes for the service support node to obtain the periodic update setting information of the terminal, the service support node may send the periodic update timer of the terminal to the terminal in the following two modes:

First mode: In the attach procedure of the terminal, the service support node sends an Attach Accept message to the terminal, where the Attach Accept message carries the periodic update timer of the terminal.

Second mode: If the terminal has already attached, the service support node sends an Update Accept message to the terminal, where the Update Accept message carries the periodic update timer of the terminal.

It should be noted that in order to support a longer update interval than that of the prior art, the value unit part of the conventional general packet radio service (GPRS) timer information element (IE) may be enhanced. The conventional GPRS Timer IE is defined as follows (excerpted from 3GPP TS 24.008):

-   -   where,

Timer value (octet 2) Bits 5 to 1 represent the binary coded timer value. Bits 6 to 8 define the timer value unit for the GPRS timer as follows: Bits 8 7 6 0 0 0 value is incremented in multiples of 2 seconds 0 0 1 value is incremented in multiples of 1 minute 0 1 0 value is incremented in multiples of decihours (6 minutes) 1 1 1 value indicates that the timer is deactivated Other values shall be interpreted as multiples of 1 minute in this version of the protocol.

Specifically, the present invention may define several new coded values for the timer value unit to obtain a bigger time unit. For example, value unit codes 011, 100, 101, and 110 may be added and are respectively defined as follows: 011 means that the unit is 1 hour, 100 means that the unit is 10 hours, 101 means that the unit is 100 hours, and 110 means that the unit is 1000 hours; or 011 means that the unit is 1 hour, 100 means that the unit is 1 day, 101 means that the unit is 1 week, 110 means that the unit is 1 month, and so on. All these newly added value units are bigger than the conventional maximum value unit, that is, 6 minutes.

Step 14: Set a value that is a little longer than the periodic update timer of the terminal as a mobile reachable timer for monitoring the periodic update of the terminal.

As with the conventional mobility management method, the service support node needs to set a value, which is a little longer than the periodic update timer of the terminal, as the mobile reachable timer for monitoring the periodic update of the terminal. If the mobile reachable timer expires, the service support node clears a paging proceed flag (PPF) to zero, so that the service support node does not perform terminal paging.

In the mobility management method according to this embodiment of the present invention, the periodic update setting information the network set for the terminal is obtained through the subscription data, the periodic update timer of the terminal is obtained according to the periodic update setting information, and the periodic update timer is sent to the terminal, and, meanwhile, a value, which is a little longer than the periodic update timer of the terminal, is set as a mobility reachable timer for monitoring the periodic update of the terminal, thereby achieving the objective of setting or dynamically modifying the mobility management frequency of a particular terminal, and solving the problem that the prior art cannot set or dynamically modify the mobility management frequency of a particular terminal among numerous terminals. In addition, by setting or dynamically modifying the periodic update of a particular terminal to an update interval that is longer than the regular periodic update timer, the utilization of the network resources may be improved.

Based on the mobility management method according to the embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2, an embodiment of the present invention provides service support node. The service support node may be an SGSN or an MME. The service support node includes:

a subscription data obtaining unit 21, configured to obtain subscription data of a terminal, where the subscription data carries periodic update setting information;

a timer obtaining unit 22, configured to obtain a periodic update timer of the terminal according to the periodic update setting information;

a timer sending unit 23, configured to send the periodic update timer of the terminal to the terminal; and

a setting unit 24, configured to set a value, which is longer than the periodic update timer of the terminal, as a mobile reachable timer for monitoring the periodic update of the terminal.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the subscription data obtaining unit 21 may include:

a first obtaining subunit 211, configured to send, after receiving an Attach Request from the terminal, an Update Location message to a subscriber server (an HLR or an HSS), and receive the subscription data sent by the subscriber server, where the subscription data carries the periodic update setting information; or

a second obtaining subunit 212, configured to receive, when the subscriber server resets the periodic update of the terminal, the subscription data sent by the subscriber server, where the subscription data carries the periodic update setting information.

The timer obtaining unit 22 may include any one of the following subunits:

a first obtaining subunit 221, configured to obtain, when the periodic update setting information is a multiplication factor of a regular periodic update timer, the regular periodic update timer and multiply the regular periodic update timer with the multiplication factor to obtain the periodic update timer of the terminal;

a second obtaining subunit 222, configured to directly use, when the periodic update setting information is a specified periodic update timer, the specified periodic update timer as the periodic update timer of the terminal; or

a third obtaining subunit 223, configured to obtain, when the periodic update setting information is an increment value of the regular periodic update timer, the regular periodic update timer and add the increment value to the regular periodic update timer to obtain the periodic update timer of the terminal.

Corresponding to the subunits included in the subscription data obtaining unit 21, the timer sending unit 23 may include:

a first sending subunit 231, configured to send an Attach Accept message to the terminal, where the Attach Accept message carries the periodic update timer of the terminal; or

a second sending subunit 232, configured to send an Update Accept message to the terminal, where the Update Accept message carries the periodic update timer of the terminal.

For the specific implementation method of the service support node according to the embodiment of the present invention, reference may be made to the mobility management method according to the embodiment of the present invention, which is not described here again.

In the service support node according to this embodiment of the present invention, the subscription data obtaining unit 21 obtains the periodic update setting information of the network with respect to the terminal, the timer obtaining unit 22 obtains the periodic update timer of the terminal according to the periodic update setting information, and the timer sending unit 23 sends the periodic update timer to the terminal, and meanwhile the setting unit 24 sets a value, which is a little longer than the periodic update timer of the terminal, as a mobility reachable timer for monitoring the periodic update of the terminal, thereby achieving the objective of setting or dynamically modifying the mobility management frequency of a particular terminal, and solving the problem that the prior art cannot set or dynamically modify the mobility management frequency of a particular terminal among numerous terminals.

As shown in FIG. 4, another mobility management method according to an embodiment of the present invention includes the following steps:

Step 41: Obtain subscription data of a terminal, where the subscription data carries a periodic update deactivation indicator.

The service support node may use one of the following two ways to obtain the periodic update deactivation indicator of the terminal from the subscriber server:

First way: In the attach procedure of the terminal, when the service support node receives an Attach Request from the terminal, the service support node sends an Update Location message to the subscriber server and receives the subscription data sent by the subscriber server, where the subscription data carries the periodic update deactivation indicator.

Second way: If the terminal has attached, when the subscriber server needs to reset the periodic update of the terminal, the subscriber server sends new subscription data to the service support node, where the subscription data carries the periodic update deactivation indicator. The scenarios where the subscriber server resets the periodic update of the terminal include a scenario where the subscriber server has previously set the periodic update of the terminal or a scenario where the terminal uses a regular periodic update timer.

The periodic update deactivation indicator carried in the subscription data may be a deactivation indicator of the periodic update timer or a value of the periodic update timer that is set to zero. At this time, the service support node skips the operation of obtaining the regular periodic update timer.

Step 42: Send the deactivation information of the periodic update timer to the terminal according to the periodic update deactivation indicator.

The service support node may use either of the following ways to send the deactivation information of the periodic update timer to the terminal according to the received periodic update deactivation indicator of the terminal:

The used value unit of the periodic update timer indicates that the timer is deactivated, for example, the value unit of the periodic update timer may be set to a binary value “111” (timer value unit=111);

or, the value of the periodic update timer is set to zero (timer value=0).

Step 43: Stop the mobile reachable timer so as to stop monitoring the periodic update of the terminal.

At this time, the service support node stops the mobile reachable timer and stops monitoring the periodic update of the terminal.

Optionally, when the periodic update of the terminal needs to be reactivated, the subscriber server may modify the subscription data in the service support node to activate the periodic update of the terminal. Therefore, the mobility management method according to the embodiment of the present invention may also include the following:

The service support node obtains the subscription data of the terminal again, where the subscription data carries a periodic update activation indicator; and the service support node activates the periodic update of the terminal according to the periodic update activation indicator.

The service support node may use one of the following two ways to activate the periodic update of the terminal according to the periodic update activation indicator:

First way: The service support node sends a Detach Request message to the terminal to instruct the terminal to re-initiate an attach procedure, and activate the periodic update of the terminal through the attach procedure re-initiated by the terminal.

Specifically, after receiving the Attach Request of the terminal, the service support node obtains the regular periodic update timer, and sends an Attach Accept message to the terminal, where the Attach Accept message carries the regular periodic update timer; and then, the service support node sets a value, which is a little longer than the regular periodic update timer, as a mobile reachable timer for monitoring the periodic update of the terminal.

Second way: After receiving the Update Request initiated by the terminal, the service support node activates the periodic update of the terminal through the Update Accept message.

Specifically, after receiving the Update Request initiated by the terminal, the service support node obtains the regular periodic update timer, and sends a Update Accept message to the terminal, where the Update Accept message carries the regular periodic update timer; and then, the service support node sets a value, which is a little longer than the regular periodic update timer, as a mobile reachable timer for monitoring the periodic update of the terminal.

The mobility management method according to the embodiment of the present invention obtains the periodic update deactivation indicator of the network with respect to the terminal through the subscription data, sends the deactivation information of the periodic update timer to the terminal according to the periodic update deactivation indicator, and meanwhile stops the mobile reachable timer so as to stop monitoring the periodic update of the terminal. As a result, the mobility management frequency of a particular terminal may be decreased, and the utilization of network resources is improved. In addition, when the network needs to activate the periodic update of the terminal, the subscription data in the service support node may be modified again, thereby achieving the objective of setting or dynamically modifying the mobility management frequency of a particular terminal, and solving the problem that the prior art cannot set or dynamically modify the mobility management frequency of a particular terminal among numerous terminals.

Based on the mobility management method according to the embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 5, an embodiment of the present invention provides another service support node, including:

a subscription data obtaining unit 51, configured to obtain subscription data of a terminal, where the subscription data carries a periodic update deactivation indicator;

a deactivation information sending unit 52, configured to send deactivation information of a periodic update timer to the terminal according to the periodic update deactivation indicator; and

a stopping unit 53, configured to stop a mobile reachable timer so as to stop monitoring the periodic update of the terminal.

Optionally, as shown in FIG. 6, the service support node may also include:

a subscription data re-obtaining unit 61, configured to re-obtain the subscription data of the terminal, where the subscription data carries a periodic update activation indicator; and

an activation processing unit 62, configured to activate the periodic update of the terminal according to the periodic update activation indicator.

And further, the activation processing unit 62 may include:

a first activation processing subunit 621, configured to send a Detach Request message to the terminal to instruct the terminal to re-initiate an attach procedure, and activate the periodic update of the terminal through the attach procedure re-initiated by the terminal;

or

a second activation processing subunit 622, configured to activate, after receiving the Update Request initiated by the terminal, the periodic update of the terminal through the Update Accept message.

For the specific implementation method of the service support node according to this embodiment of the present invention, reference may be made to another mobility management method according to the embodiment of the present invention, which is not described here again.

In the service support node according to this embodiment of the present invention, the subscription data obtaining unit 51 obtains the periodic update deactivation indicator of the network with respect to the terminal, the deactivation information sending unit 52 sends the deactivation information of the periodic update timer to the terminal according to the periodic update deactivation indicator, and meanwhile the stopping unit 53 stops the mobile reachable timer so as to stop monitoring the periodic update of the terminal. As a result, the mobility management frequency of a particular terminal may be decreased, and the utilization of network resources may be improved. In addition, when the network needs to activate the periodic update of the terminal, the subscription data re-obtaining unit 61 may obtain the periodic update activation indicator of the network with respect to the terminal, and the activation processing unit 62 activates the periodic update of the terminal according to the periodic update activation indicator, thereby achieving the objective of setting or dynamically modifying the mobility management frequency of a particular terminal, and solving the problem that the prior art cannot set or dynamically modify the mobility management frequency of a particular terminal among numerous terminals.

In order to enable those skilled in the art to understand the technical solution of the embodiments of the present invention more clearly, the mobility management method according to the embodiments of the present invention is described below in detail with reference to specific embodiments.

First embodiment: In the attach procedure of the terminal, the service support node obtains the subscription data from a subscriber server, where the subscription data instructs the service support node to deliver a special periodic update timer (as opposed to the regular periodic update timer) to the terminal.

As shown in FIG. 7, the mobility management method according to this embodiment includes the following steps:

Step 71: The terminal initiates an Attach Request to the service support node.

Step 72: The service support node sends an Update Location message to the subscriber server.

Step 73: The subscriber server sends an Insert Subscriber Data message (the subscriber data is also known as subscription data) to the service support node, where the message carries the periodic update setting information.

The periodic update setting information may take any one of the following three ways:

a. a multiplication factor of the regular periodic update timer;

b. directly giving a specified periodic update timer; and

c. an increment value of the regular periodic update timer.

Step 74: The service support node obtains a periodic update timer of the terminal according to the periodic update setting information.

There are three possible ways for the service support node to process the received periodic update setting information: a. obtaining the regular periodic update timer, and multiplying the regular periodic update timer with the multiplication factor to obtain the periodic update timer of the terminal; b. directly using the specified periodic update timer as the periodic update timer of the terminal; and c. obtaining the regular periodic update timer, and adding the increment value to the regular periodic update timer to obtain the periodic update timer of the terminal.

Step 75: The service support node sends an Insert Subscriber Data Ack message to the subscriber server.

Step 76: The subscriber server sends an Update Location Ack message to the service support node.

Step 77: The service support node sends an Attach Accept message to the terminal, where the message carries the periodic update timer of the terminal.

Step 78: The service support node sets a value, which is a little longer than the periodic update timer of the terminal, as a mobile reachable timer for monitoring the subsequent periodic update of the terminal.

Second embodiment: If the terminal has attached, the HLR or the HSS initiates a modification of the subscription data in the service support node, instructing the service support node to modify the periodic update timer of the terminal.

As shown in FIG. 8, the mobility management method according to this embodiment includes the following steps:

Step 81: The subscriber server sends an Insert Subscriber Data message to the service support node, where the message carries the periodic update setting information.

The periodic update setting information may take any one of the following three forms:

a. a multiplication factor of the regular periodic update timer;

b. a specified periodic update timer; and c. an increment value of the regular periodic update timer.

Step 82: The service support node sends an Insert Subscriber Data Ack message to the subscriber server.

Step 83: The terminal initiates an Update Request to the service support node.

The update type may be an update or a periodic update.

Step 84: The service support node obtains a periodic update timer of the terminal according to the periodic update setting information.

Being triggered by the Update Request of the terminal, the service support node executes three kinds of possible processing:

a. obtaining the regular periodic update timer and multiplying the regular periodic update timer with the multiplication factor to obtain the periodic update timer of the terminal;

b. directly using the specified periodic update timer as the periodic update timer of the terminal; and

c. obtaining the regular periodic update timer and adding the increment value to the regular periodic update timer to obtain the periodic update timer of the terminal.

Step 85: The service support node sends an Update Accept message to the terminal, where the message carries the periodic update timer of the terminal.

Step 86: The service support node sets a value, which is a little longer than the periodic update timer of the terminal, as a mobile reachable timer for monitoring the subsequent periodic update of the terminal.

In the mobility management methods according to the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the subscription data instructs the service support node to deliver the special periodic update timer for the terminal, thereby achieving the objective of setting or dynamically modifying the mobility management frequency of a particular terminal, and solving the problem that the prior art cannot set or dynamically modify the mobility management frequency of a particular terminal among numerous terminals.

Third embodiment: In the attach procedure of the terminal, the service support node obtains the subscription data from the subscriber server, where the subscription data instructs the service support node to deactivate the periodic update timer of the terminal.

As shown in FIG. 9, the mobility management method according to this embodiment includes the following steps:

Step 91: The terminal initiates an Attach Request to the service support node.

Step 92: The service support node sends an Update Location message to the subscriber server.

Step 93: The subscriber server sends an Insert Subscriber Data message to the service support node, where the message carries a periodic update deactivation indicator.

The periodic update deactivation indicator may directly indicate that the periodic update timer of the terminal is deactivated or that the periodic update timer is zero. It may be understood that the periodic update deactivation indicator may also be referred to as periodic update deactivation setting information.

Step 94: The service support node skips the operation of obtaining the regular periodic update timer.

Step 95: The service support node sends an Insert Subscriber Data Ack message to the subscriber server.

Step 96: The subscriber server sends an Update Location Ack message to the service support node.

Step 97: The service support node sends an Attach Accept message to the terminal, where the message carries the deactivation information of the periodic update timer.

The deactivation information of the periodic update timer may take either of the following ways: setting the value unit of the periodic update timer to a binary value “111” (timer value unit=111) or setting the value of the periodic update timer to zero (timer value=0), to indicate that the periodic update timer is deactivated.

Step 98: The service support node stops the mobile reachable timer so as to stop monitoring the subsequent periodic update of the terminal.

It is worth noting that if the terminal has attached, the subscriber server may also initiate the modification of the subscription data in the service support node, instructing the service support node to deactivate the periodic update timer of the terminal. The specific procedure may be similar to that of the foregoing second embodiment, and is not repeatedly described here.

In addition, if the periodic update of the terminal has been deactivated, when the periodic update of the terminal needs to be reactivated, the subscriber server may initiate the modification of the subscription data in the service support node, instructing the service support node to activate the periodic update of the terminal. The service support node may initiate a detach procedure to instruct the terminal to re-initiate an attach procedure, and activate the periodic update during a subsequent attach procedure of the terminal; or the service support node may activate the periodic update through a location update procedure initiated by the terminal.

As shown in FIG. 10, an embodiment for activating a periodic update of a terminal according to the present invention includes the following steps:

Step 101: The subscriber server sends an Insert Subscriber Data message to the service support node, where the message carries a periodic update activation indicator.

Step 102: The service support node sends an Insert Subscriber Data Ack message to the subscriber server.

Step 103: The service support node sends a Detach Request message to the terminal, where a detach type indicates that the terminal needs to attach again.

Step 104: The terminal sends a Detach Accept message to the service support node.

Step 105: The terminal sends an Attach Request message to the service support node.

Step 106: The service support node obtains the regular periodic update timer.

Step 107: The service support node sends an Attach Accept message to the terminal, where the message carries the obtained regular periodic update timer.

Step 108: The service support node sets a value, which is a little longer than the regular periodic update timer, as a mobile reachable timer for monitoring the subsequent periodic update of the terminal.

As shown in FIG. 11, another embodiment for activating a periodic update of a terminal according to the present invention includes the following steps:

Step 111: The subscriber server sends an Insert Subscriber Data message to the service support node, where the message carries a periodic update activation indicator.

Step 112: The service support node sends an Insert Subscriber Data Ack message to the subscriber server.

Step 113: The terminal actively sends a Location Update Request message to the service support node.

Step 114: The service support node obtains the regular periodic update timer.

Step 115: The service support node sends a Location Update Accept message to the terminal, where the message carries the obtained regular periodic update timer.

Step 116: The service support node sets a value, which is a little longer than the regular periodic update timer, as a mobile reachable timer for monitoring the subsequent periodic update of the terminal.

In the mobility management method according to the third embodiment, the service support node is instructed by the subscription data to deactivate the periodic update of the terminal. As a result, the mobility management frequency of a particular terminal may be decreased, and the utilization of network resources may be improved. In addition, when the periodic update of the terminal needs to be activated, the service support node is instructed again by the subscription data to activate the periodic update of the terminal, thereby achieving the objective of setting or dynamically modifying the mobility management frequency of a particular terminal, and solving the problem that the prior art cannot set or dynamically modify the mobility management frequency of a particular terminal among numerous terminals.

For the terminal, as shown in FIG. 12, a mobility management method according to an embodiment of the present invention includes the following steps:

Step 121: Receive a periodic update timer from an service support node, where the periodic update timer is obtained by the service support node according to the periodic update setting information in subscription data; and

Step 122: Execute a periodic update according to the received periodic update timer.

The periodic update setting information in the subscription data may include: a multiplication factor of the regular periodic update timer; or a specified periodic update timer; or an increment value of the regular periodic update timer.

The terminal may receive the periodic update timer from the service support node in the following ways: sending an Attach Request message to the service support node, and receiving the periodic update timer through an Attach Accept message; or sending an Update Request message to the service support node, and receiving the periodic update timer through an Update Accept message.

And, in order to support a longer update interval than that of the prior art, the code of the value unit of the periodic update timer received by the terminal may include: 011, or 100, or 101, or 110, and the value unit is larger than 6 minutes. For example, the following definitions may be applied: 011 means that the unit is 1 hour, 100 means that the unit is 10 hours, 101 means that the unit is 100 hours, and 110 means that the unit is 1000 hours; or 011 means that the unit is 1 hour, 100 means that the unit is 1 day, 101 means that the unit is 1 week, 110 means that the unit is 1 month, and so on.

Based on the mobility management method, as shown in FIG. 13, an embodiment of the present invention also provides a terminal, including:

a timer receiving unit 131, configured to receive a periodic update timer from a service support node, where the periodic update timer is obtained by the service support node according to the periodic update setting information in the subscription data; and

an update executing unit 132, configured to execute a periodic update according to the received periodic update timer.

In the mobility management method and the terminal according to the embodiments of the present invention, the terminal receives the periodic update timer that is obtained by the service support node according to the periodic update setting information in the subscription data, and executes a periodic update according to the received periodic update timer. Thereby, the mobility management frequency of a particular terminal among numerous terminals can be set or dynamically modified in cooperation with the network.

For the terminal, as shown in FIG. 14, another mobility management method according to an embodiment of the present invention includes the following steps:

Step 141: Receive deactivation information of a periodic update timer from a service support node, where the deactivation information is sent by the service support node according to a periodic update deactivation indicator in subscription data.

Step 142: Stop executing a periodic update according to the received deactivation information of the periodic update timer.

The deactivation information of the periodic update timer received by the terminal includes: the value unit of the periodic update timer indicating that the timer is deactivated; or the value of the periodic update timer that is set to zero.

If the periodic update of the terminal has been deactivated, optionally, the mobility management method according to the embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 15, may also include the following steps:

Step 151: Receive activation information of the periodic update timer from the service support node, where the activation information is sent by the service support node according to a periodic update activation indicator in subscription data.

Step 152: Activate the periodic update according to the received activation information of the periodic update timer.

Based on the mobility management method, as shown in FIG. 16, an embodiment of the present invention provides another terminal, including:

a deactivation information receiving unit 161, configured to receive deactivation information of a periodic update timer from a service support node, where the deactivation information is sent by the service support node according to a periodic update deactivation indicator in subscription data; and

an update stopping unit 162, configured to stop executing a periodic update according to the deactivation information of the periodic update timer received by the deactivation information receiving unit.

Optionally, as shown in FIG. 17, the terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention may also include:

an activation information receiving unit 171, configured to receive activation information of a periodic update timer from a service support node, where the activation information is sent by the service support node according to a periodic update activation indicator in subscription data; and

an update activating unit 172, configured to activate a periodic update according to the activation information of the periodic update timer received by the activation information receiving unit.

In the mobility management method and the terminal according to the embodiments of the present invention, the terminal receives the deactivation information of the periodic update timer that is sent by the service support node according to the periodic update deactivation indicator in the subscription data, and stops executing the periodic update according to the received deactivation information of the periodic update timer. Thereby, the mobility management frequency of a particular terminal among numerous terminals can be set or dynamically modified in cooperation with the network.

In summary, the mobility management methods according to the embodiments of the present invention may be applied in low-mobility machine-type communication (MTC). MTC is a kind of data communication and relates to one or more entities not requiring any interaction with a natural person. In low-mobility MTC applications, such as a family health monitoring device, an automatic vending machine, a water meter/ammeter, hydrological monitoring, forest fire monitoring, and bridge monitoring, the terminal device is stationary permanently, or moves infrequently, for example, moving only once a week, or moving only in a certain area, such as moving in a cell, moving in one or more location areas (LAs), routing areas (RAs) or tracking areas (TAs). Therefore, the utilization of network resources may be improved by setting or dynamically modifying the mobility management frequency of a particular MTC terminal (or called an MTC device) among numerous terminals.

Persons skilled in the art may understand that all or part of steps in the methods of the above embodiments may be implemented by relevant hardware instructed by a program. The program may be stored in a computer readable storage medium, such as a ROM/RAM, a magnetic disk, and an optical disk.

The above are only exemplary embodiments of the present invention, but the protection scope of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any modification or substitution readily conceivable by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in the present invention shall be covered within the protection scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the present invention is subject to the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A mobility management method, comprising: obtaining, by a service support node, subscription data of a terminal, wherein the subscription data of the terminal carries periodic update setting information; obtaining, by the service support node, a periodic update interval according to the periodic update setting information; and sending, by the service support node, the periodic update interval to the terminal, wherein the terminal performs one or more periodic update according to the periodic update interval.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the obtaining the subscription data of the terminal comprises: after receiving an Attach Request message from the terminal, sending an Update Location message to a subscriber server; and receiving the subscription data of the terminal from the subscriber server, wherein the subscription data carries the periodic update setting information.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the obtaining the subscription data of the terminal comprises: receiving the subscription data from a subscriber server when the subscriber server resets the periodic update setting information of the terminal, wherein the subscription data carries the periodic update setting information.
 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the periodic update setting information carried in the subscription data comprises any one of: a multiplication factor of a regular periodic update interval; a specified periodic update interval; and an increment value of a regular periodic update interval.
 5. The method according to claim 4, wherein when the periodic update setting information comprises a multiplication factor of a regular periodic update interval, the obtaining the periodic update interval according to the periodic update setting information comprises: obtaining the regular periodic update interval; and multiplying the regular periodic update interval with the multiplication factor to obtain the periodic update interval.
 6. The method according to claim 4, wherein when the periodic update setting information comprises a specified periodic update interval, the obtaining the periodic update interval of the terminal according to the periodic update setting information comprises: using the specified periodic update interval as the periodic update interval.
 7. The method according to claim 4, wherein when the periodic update setting information comprises an increment value of a regular periodic update interval, the obtaining the periodic update interval of the terminal according to the periodic update setting information comprises: obtaining the regular periodic update interval; and adding the increment value to the regular periodic update interval to obtain the periodic update interval.
 8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: setting a value, which is longer than the periodic update interval of the terminal, as a mobile reachable interval for monitoring a periodic update of the terminal.
 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the service support node is a serving GPRS support node (SGSN) or a mobility management entity (MME).
 10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the subscriber server is a home location register (HLR) or a home subscriber server (HSS).
 11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the periodic update is a periodic routing area update (RAU) or a periodic tracking area update (TAU).
 12. A service support node, comprising: a receiving unit, configured to receive subscription data of a terminal from a subscriber server, wherein the subscription data of the terminal carries periodic update setting information; a processor, configured to obtain a periodic update interval of the terminal according to the periodic update setting information; a transmitting unit, configured to transmit the periodic update interval to the terminal, wherein the terminal performs one or more periodic update according to the periodic update interval.
 13. The service support node according to claim 12, wherein prior to receiving the subscription data of the terminal form the subscriber server, the receiving unit is configured to receive an Attach Request message from the terminal, and the transmitting unit is configured to transmit an Update Location message to the subscriber server; and wherein the subscription data of the terminal is received from the subscriber server in response to the Update Location message, and the subscription data carries the periodic update setting information.
 14. The service support node according to claim 12, wherein the subscription data from the subscriber server is received when the subscriber server resets the periodic update setting information of the terminal, and wherein the subscription data of the terminal carries the periodic update setting information.
 15. The service support node according to claim 12, wherein the periodic update setting information carried in the subscription data comprises any one of: a multiplication factor of a regular periodic update interval; a specified periodic update interval; and an increment value of a regular periodic update interval.
 16. The service support node according to claim 15, wherein when the periodic update setting information comprises a multiplication factor of a regular periodic update interval, the processor is configured to obtain the regular periodic update interval and multiply the regular periodic update interval with the multiplication factor to obtain the periodic update interval of the terminal; when the periodic update setting information comprises a specified periodic update interval, the processor is configured to set the specified periodic update interval as the periodic update interval of the terminal; and when the periodic update setting information is an increment value of a regular periodic update interval, the processor is configured to obtain the regular periodic update interval and add the increment value to the regular periodic update interval to obtain the periodic update interval of the terminal.
 17. The service support node according to claim 12, wherein the periodic update interval is sent to the terminal in one of the following messages: an Attach Accept message, wherein the Attach Accept message carries the periodic update interval of the terminal; and an Update Accept message, wherein the update Accept message carries the periodic update interval of the terminal.
 18. The service support node according to claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to set a value, which is longer than the periodic update interval of the terminal, as a mobile reachable interval for monitoring a periodic update of the terminal.
 19. The service support node according to claim 12, wherein the service support node is a serving GPRS support node (SGSN) or a mobility management entity (MME).
 20. The service support node according to claim 12, wherein the subscriber server is a home location register (HLR) or a home subscriber server (HSS).
 21. The service support node according to claim 12, wherein the periodic update is a periodic routing area update (RAU) or a periodic tracking area update (TAU).
 22. A mobility management method, comprising: receiving, by a terminal, a periodic update interval from a service support node, wherein the periodic update interval is obtained by the service support node according to periodic update setting information carried in subscription data of the terminal; and executing, by the terminal, one or more periodic update according to the received periodic update interval.
 23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the periodic update setting information in the subscription data of the terminal comprises any one of: a multiplication factor of a regular periodic update interval; a specified periodic update interval; and an increment value of the regular periodic update interval.
 24. The method according to claim 22, wherein the receiving the periodic update interval from the service support node comprises: sending an Attach Request message to the service support node; and receiving an Attach Accept message from the service support node, wherein the Attach Accept message comprises the periodic update interval.
 25. The method according to claim 22, wherein the receiving the periodic update interval from the service support node comprises: sending an Update Request message to the service support node; and receiving an Update Accept message from the service support node, wherein the Update Accept message comprises the periodic update interval.
 26. The method according to claim 22, wherein the service support node is a serving GPRS support node (SGSN) or a mobility management entity (MME).
 27. The method according to claim 22, wherein the subscriber server is a home location register (HLR) or a home subscriber server (HSS).
 28. The method according to claim 22, wherein the periodic update is a periodic routing area update (RAU) or a periodic tracking area update (TAU).
 29. A terminal, comprising: a receiving unit, configured to receive a periodic update interval from a service support node, wherein the periodic update interval is obtained by the service support node according to periodic update setting information carried in subscription data of the terminal; and a update executing unit, configured to execute one or more periodic update according to the received periodic update interval.
 30. The terminal according to claim 29, wherein the terminal further comprises: a transmitting unit, configured to send an Attach Request message to the service support node; and wherein the periodic update interval is received through an Attach Accept message.
 31. The terminal according to claim 29, wherein the terminal further comprises: a transmitting unit, configured to send a update Request message to the service support node; and wherein the periodic update interval is received through an Update Accept message.
 32. The terminal according to claim 29, wherein the service support node is a serving GPRS support node (SGSN) or a mobility management entity (MME).
 33. The terminal according to claim 29, wherein the subscriber server is a home location register (HLR) or a home subscriber server (HSS).
 34. The terminal according to claim 29, wherein the periodic update is a periodic routing area update (RAU) or a periodic tracking area update (TAU).
 35. The terminal according to claim 29, wherein the terminal is a user equipment or a mobile station. 